The air conditioning system of your Toyota is composed of many parts. This includes
the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator, the thermal expansion valve (or
the orifice tube, in its absence), and the receiver-drier (or the accumulator,
in its absence). All of these components play important roles in the performance
of the AC system. In every system, however, there is one component that is considered
the most important. In the Toyota AC system, this part is the Toyota AC compressor.
The AC compressor, or simply compressor, is considered as the heart of the auto
air conditioning system. It is a mechanical pump that is driven by a belt fastened
to the vehicle’s engine. Like the human heart that pumps blood for the circulatory
system, the compressor also pumps refrigerant in a closed loop through the various
parts of the vehicle air conditioning system.
The air conditioning system of your Toyota is split into two sides: the high
pressure side, composed mainly of the condenser and the expansion valve, and the
low pressure side, composed of the evaporator and the receiver-drier. The AC compressor
is positioned between these two sides. The function of the AC compressor is to
suck in low pressure refrigerant from the low pressure side and compress it into
a high pressure and high temperature gas. Once compressed, the refrigerant is
discharged to the high pressure side—to the condenser in particular—where it is
cooled. By continuously pumping the refrigerant, it is forced to flow through
the entirety of the AC system.
The Toyota AC compressor is very important for the air conditioning system of
your car, van, truck or SUV. Like the human heart, it needs optimum care and attention.
And like the heart is to the circulatory system, once the AC compressor is damaged,
your Toyota air conditioning system would stop functioning properly.
